Featured Image: photo of Pau Quintanajournet by David Zushlag
Free festival, presented by Capital BlueCross, offers concerts, art activities and family fun throughout Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District
Bethlehem, PA—The creation of a community mural at Café The Lodge by internationally-renowned artist Pau Quintanajournet, live music at 10 South Bethlehem locations and fun-filled art experiences including a community Art & Photo Swap and a virtual reality exhibit highlight the 2019 SouthSide Arts & Music Festival May 3-4 in Bethlehem. The festival, presented by Capital BlueCross, offers attendees a dynamic mix of music and art experiences and is designed to shine the spotlight on Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District.
The 2019 SouthSide Arts & Music Festival is filled with visual arts experiences, live music and family programming, all designed to encourage guests to visit South Bethlehem’s shops, restaurants and arts venues. This year’s festival includes performances by artists like Billy Bauer and Chris Lorenzetti, Chelsea Lyn Myer, Pete + the Stray Dogs and That’s What She Said. At the Banana Factory Arts Center, the public can explore a variety of free and ticketed arts experiences, including workshops focused on urban printmaking, glassblowing, weaving, yoga art and more. In addition, a number of local artists and vendors will be on hand, offering fun, funky and beautifully crafted collectables and works of art for sale.
“Supporting local arts and culture is a vital part of Capital BlueCross’ role as a community leader, and we’re happy to offer our continued support to the SouthSide Arts & Music Festival,” says Susan Hubley, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Capital BlueCross. “This festival adds so much to Bethlehem’s vibrant arts scene and further strengthens our community and its overall well-being.”
On May 3, 6-9 p.m., the community is invited to First Friday at the Banana Factory Arts Center, featuring the opening reception and awards announcements for the annual “Compendium Juried Exhibition” with juror Tim Higgins. The exhibit, which is designed to highlight the thriving artistic community of the Lehigh Valley, showcases a diverse array of artists. From 5-7 p.m. that evening, Dan’s Camera City is hosting an Art & Photo Swap, where arts enthusiasts and artists can network, enjoy beverages and check out each other’s artwork. Dan’s Camera City is partnering with ArtsQuest to provide five free prints to trade during this event.
The next day, from 1:30-5:30 p.m., the arts center is offering a Virtual Reality Experience with Pollen Consolidated. This unique exhibition focuses on adapting traditional art into virtual worlds to create a mixed reality. All artwork in the demonstration was scanned or photographed digitally and then brought into the virtual environment that visitors are invited to explore.
From 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Ryan Fisher of Lasting Image Photography and President of the Lehigh Valley Photo Group is leading a free, guided photo walk through South Bethlehem. The walk is open to all skill levels, with participants meeting at the Banana Factory to begin their exploration of the city’s unique spaces, historical architecture and charm. Participants should bring their own cameras.
In the days leading up to the SouthSide Arts & Music Festival, Germany’s Pau Quintanajournet will be creating a mural on the exterior of Café The Lodge on Fourth Street. The mural, which is supported by ArtsQuest, The Café the Lodge, Resources for Human Development and Just Born, will be done in Pau’s signature style and highlight Café The Lodge’s mission focused on mental health recovery.
Born in Chile, Quintanajournet moved to Germany at the age of 15 to broaden her horizons and find a creative outlet. Inspired by Pablo Neruda’s words, “The murals are the books of the people,” she started a long-term art project in 2013 called PROJECT WALLFLOWERS. Today, her work is found on walls in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Germany, United States, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. She has also appeared in festivals, exhibitions and events around the globe including the METROPOLINK Festival in Heidelberg, Germany; 40 Degree Urban Art Festival in Dusseldorf, Germany; and TEDx Asbury Park in New Jersey.
“The SouthSide Arts District is thrilled to partner with ArtsQuest and welcome back the SouthSide Arts & Music Festival,” says Missy Hartney, Downtown Manager for the SouthSide Arts District. “This event is a fabulous opportunity for residents of Bethlehem and beyond to explore all the arts and culture the SouthSide has to offer at the ArtsQuest campuses and throughout our shops and restaurants of the downtown. The SouthSide has such a fun, bohemian atmosphere, and this festival truly highlights all those features – vast works of public art and great music of all genres.”
Other SouthSide Arts & Music Festival highlights include:
– Tours of Resident Artists’ studios at the Banana Factory
– Banana Factory Artist Talk (May 3) and Art Installation at the ArtsQuest Center by Martha Rich
– Hip-Hop & Breakdancing Competition on May 4, 4-6 p.m., at the Banana Factory
– Skateboard Tricks Competition presented by Homebase610, May 3, 6-9 p.m., at the Banana Factory
Most SouthSide Arts & Music Festival programs and activities are free; however, some do require an admission fee and advance signup. Festival hours are Friday, 6-9 p.m., and Saturday, 1-7 p.m. For additional information, please visit www.steelstacks.org.
The SouthSide Arts & Music Festival Lineup:
Friday, May 3, 6-9 p.m.
The Banana Factory Arts Center
5-7 p.m. | Hot Glass Experience: Make Your Own Glass Flower | $50 Per Experience
6-8:30 p.m. | Bob Ross Style Paint-Along | FREE
6-9 p.m. | Open Resident Artist Studios | FREE
6-9 p.m. | Custom Button Making | FREE
6-9 p.m. | Homebase610 Best Tricks Contest | FREE
6-9 p.m. | Henna Tattoos | $15
6-9 p.m. | SouthSide ArtsWalk | FREE/$
6:30 p.m. | Artist Talk with Martha Rich & Maria Beddia | FREE
7:30 p.m. | Compendium Juried Exhibition: Reception & Awards Announcements | FREE
7-9 p.m. | Flameworking Demo & Collaboration with Dan Getz & Hannah Shine | FREE
7-9 p.m. | Hot Glass Demo with the ArtsQuest Glass Studio | FREE
Free Music at the Banana Factory
7-9 p.m. | Pete + the Stray Dogs (Blues, Folk, Country) | FREE
Free Music in SouthSide Bethlehem
5-7 p.m. | Chelsea Lyn Meyer | Hill-to-Hill Grille, 120 W. 3rd St.
5-6:30 p.m. | The Ancient Oaks | E-Z Money, 20 W. 4th St.
6-8 p.m. | Brian Kibler | Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, 4 E. 4th St.
7-9 p.m. | Seth Witcher | Domaci, 21 E. 3rd St.
Saturday, May 4, 1-7 p.m.
The Banana Factory Arts Center
10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Character Design Workshop with Musikfest 2019 Poster Artist Jessica Bastidas | $120
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | YogART® Workshop with Michelle Lee | $40
1-4:30 p.m. | Community Loom Weaving and Demonstration with Kim Tanzos | FREE
1-4:30 p.m. | Hands-on Art Projects | FREE
1-5 p.m. | Hot Glass Experience: Make Your Own Glass Succulent | $50 Per Experience
1-7 p.m. | Henna Tattoos | $15
1-7 p.m. | Hands-on Projects & Demos with MakeLV | FREE
1-7 p.m. | SouthSide ArtsWalk | FREE/$
1-7 p.m. | Create + Connect Skateboard Design Competition | FREE
In partnership with HomeBase610, Lost Soul Skateboards & Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations
1:30-5:30 p.m. | Virtual Reality Experience with Pollen Consolidated | FREE
2-6 p.m. | Flameworking Demo & Collaboration with Dan Getz & Hannah Shine | FREE
3 p.m. | Urban Print Making with Alex Snowden | $30, includes one t-shirt
3:30 & 4:30 p.m. | Star Wars Terrarium with Natalie Hartman | $27
3-5 p.m. | LV Photography Group Photo Walk with Ryan Fisher | FREE
4-6 p.m. | Hip-Hop & Break-Dancing Competition | FREE
5-7 p.m. | Art & Photo Swap with Dan’s Camera City | FREE
Free Music at the Banana Factory Arts Center
1:30-3:30 p.m. | River Lynch and The Spiritmakers | FREE
4:30-6:30 p.m. | The Dull Blue Lights | FREE
Free Music in SouthSide Bethlehem
12-2 p.m. | James Whiteman | Cafe The Lodge, 427 E. 4th St.
2-4 p.m. | EJ & JO Acoustic Duo | Hill-to-Hill Grill, 120 W. 3rd St.
5-7 p.m. | Stacy Gabel | Hill-to-Hill Grill, 120 W. 3rd St.
5-7 p.m. | Cassidy Rain | Roasted, 22 W. 4th St.
5-7 p.m. | Zach Russack | Revel Social, 217 Broadway
5-7 p.m. | Jack Pierone | Molinari’s, 322 E. 3rd St.
6-8 p.m. | That’s What She Said | Domaci, 21 E. 3rd St.
7-9 p.m. | Billy Bauer & Chris Lorenzetti | South Bethlehem Greenway, Taylor & Mechanic Streets
8-11 p.m. | Time Why?s | Hill-to-Hill Grill, 120 W. 3rd St.
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
